Connect
← Return to Anxiety and disbelief over sudden hearing loss and tinnitus
Discussion
Anxiety and disbelief over sudden hearing loss and tinnitus
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Aug 28 10:26am | Replies (56)Comment receiving replies
The same hearing loss happened to me, in my case it was major stress over a few weeks because my blood pressure readings being too high. Turned out that my monitor was faulty—I was monitoring pressure and didn't have the good sense to buy a new monitor. So I stressed at these readings which were of course, false. Stressing over two weeks made my hearing go. If I had bought a new monitor, and if you had stopped the dentist, we wouldn't be in this situation.
In your case you should have stopped the dentist. In mine I should have bought a monitor. But now for both of us the damage is done, and like you I find it hard to come to terms with having made such a mistake and we are now stuck with hearing aids for life. A month ago my hearing was perfect, now I have maybe 30 in the left and 60 in the right.
It really does knock you sideways, something which people who have perfect hearing don't understand, and like you—"All the normal problems I was focused on before have kind of flown out the window".
I kick myself every day realising that a $20 expense would have had all this not happen. But we have—difficult though it is—to stop beating ourselves up over this and get on with living 🙂 and try not to be bitterly disappointed with our mistakes. However it's not nice to be reminded every time we fit the hearing aids :-/
All the best
Guy (Essex, England)
Replies to "The same hearing loss happened to me, in my case it was major stress over a..."
@guyhemmings Your post is the first time I have heard of blood pressure issues causing hearing loss. If anyone else out there has a similar diagnosis, please share.
The World Health Organization tells us that over 300 million people in civilized countries have hearing loss. The date for the USA alone is 48 million. It's a very common problem.
We are lucky to live in times when hearing technology has improved. However, it isn't a cure and it is not perfect. Noisy environments are still problematic for most of us. In some instances, assistive technology that goes beyond prescriptive hearing aids can help a great deal in noise. It's important to make sure your personal hearing aids can be used with that add on tech. Cochlear implants can be very helpful for profound hearing loss, but your stats don't look like they are there at this point.
Stress management skills are important to good health for everyone. Take time to learn them and use them. Know you are not alone with the frustrating invisible disability of hearing loss. Try to meet and get to know other people who are living with it. It's amazing how helpful it can be to simply be able to openly discuss how it affects your lives.
Good luck to you. You may want to explore information on the website of the Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA) http://www.hearingloss.org There is good information there and some opportunities to participate online in some great learning opportunities.
Julieo4
Connect
@guyhemmings Just having hearing loss whether it is gradual or sudden is tough. No one with good hearing can relate to what it is like to have to rely on hearing aids. I am just happy they continue to get better and better. Hopefully they will find a cure for hearing loss but probably not in my lifetime.
There are certainly things that happen that are far worse as we age. At least that is what I tell myself when I get frustrated in a crowded restaurant.
Good luck to everyone on this site.